Spinal plate

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a spinal plate which is used to perform fixation surgery on a spine in orthopedic surgery and neurosurgery. The spinal plate comprises a central body and a pair of rotation portions which are disposed on both sides in a longitudinal direction of the central body and each of the pair of rotation portions has bone screw. The spinal plate also comprises spike screw in each of the pair of rotation portions. Each of the pair of rotation portions include a rotation connection portion, and the central body includes a rotation support portion. Rotation pins are used to connect the central body with the pair of rotation portions disposed on both sides in a longitudinal direction of the central body and enable the pair of rotation portions to rotate clockwise or counterclockwise with respect to the central body.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 16/821,321, filed on Mar. 17, 2020, and the contentof the aforementioned application is incorporated herein by reference intheir entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a spinal plate, and more specificallyto a spinal plate which is used to perform fixation surgery on a spinein orthopedic surgery and neurosurgery.

2. Description of the Related Art

In general, a spine forms a pillar of the body, and an upper portionthereof is a portion forming a backbone of a human body that connects anupper skull and a lower pelvis. The spine includes 7 cervical vertebrae,12 thoracic vertebrae, 5 lumbar vertebrae, 5 sacral vertebrae, and 3 to5 coccyges from the top. In such a spine, symptoms such as anintervertebral disc disease and lumbar herniated intervertebral disc arelikely to occur by prolonged or excessive use. In general, patientshaving spinal disorders such as spinal fracture and dislocation aresubjected to treatment and correction by fixing the respective vertebraeso as not to be moved relative to each other. For this, a spinalfixation device has been widely used for fixing the vertebrae duringfusion in the art.

Such a spinal plate generally refers to an implantation plate used fortreatment of the spinal disorders. The spinal implant is used for spinalfusion in which a fusion cage of an artificial implant is insertedbetween vertebrae from which a damaged intervertebral disk is removeddue to various spinal disorders, thus to restore and maintain aninterval between the vertebrae. In the conventional case, the fusioncage inserted between the vertebrae is used simultaneously with bonescrews and a rod applied simultaneously to the back of the vertebralbody, or is used in such a manner in which the cage is coupled and fixedby a plate and connection bolts screwed to the vertebrae, or the cageitself is equipped with bone screw holes that can be installed the bonescrews to directly fix the cage to the vertebrae.

However, since spin shapes are very diverse depending on conditions ofthe patients during the surgery, a case in which a doctor needs to usethe spinal plate by modifying the shape thereof for each situationoccurs. However, it is not easy to accurately modify the shape of thespinal plate according to the various spin shapes of the patients.Therefore, when actually performing the surgery, there are problems thatthe spinal plate does not adhere to the vertebrae but is detached orsomewhat incompletely attached, thereby side effects occur or thesurgery has to be performed again.

In addition, the patients prefer minimally invasive spine (MIS) surgerybecause of its potential benefits: less blood loss from surgery, reducedrisk of muscle damage, reduced risk of infection and postoperative pain,faster recovery time, better cosmetic results because of relativelysmaller skin incisions, etc. In order to perform MIS surgery, it iscrucial that the doctors should be able to gain access to the spinalarea by making as smaller skin incisions as possible and insert thespinal plate through these small skin incisions. In other words, thespinal plate, whose shape can be easily modified depending on conditionsof the patients during the surgery and which can be inserted throughpatients' small skin incisions, is required for successful MIS surgery.

PRIOR ART DOCUMENT Patent Document

(Patent Document 1) U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US2018-0235671A

(Patent Document 2) U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US2013-0060283A

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a spinal plate in whicha rotation device and a locking device are installed so as to be used byfixing any one or more of longitudinal ends of the plate with beingrotated at any angle, thereby allowing a doctor to use the spinal plateby modifying a shape thereof to the shape desired by the doctor during asurgery, and to perform the surgery by coping with various spin shapesof patients.

In order to achieve the above object, according to an aspect of thepresent invention, there is provided a spinal plate including: a centralbody; and a pair of end bodies which are disposed on both sides of thecentral body and have one or more fixing screw holes in which fixingscrews to be inserted into vertebrae are received, wherein at least oneof the pair of end bodies includes a rotation device configured to fixthe end body to the central body in a selectively rotatable manner, anda locking device configured to maintain the rotation device in anunlocked state or a locked state.

Herein, the central body may include one or more fixing screw holesformed therein, in which fixing screws to be inserted into vertebrae arereceived.

In addition, the rotation device may include: central pin joints formedat both ends of the central body; end pin joints formed at ends of theend bodies; and rotation pins which are inserted into the central pinjoints and the end pin joints in a penetration manner.

Further, the locking device may include: central locking parts formed inthe central pin joints so as to be located outside the rotation pin; endlocking part formed in the end pin joint so as to be located outside therotation pin; and a locking tube which is inserted into the central pinjoints and the end pin joint outside of the rotation pin to be fastenedto the end locking part and the central locking parts so as to preventrotations thereof.

Further, the locking tube may include: a tube locking part which isformed on an outer circumference thereof to come into contact with theend locking part and the central locking part, and is configured to fixa relative position between the end locking part and the central lockingpart; and a knob formed at one end thereof.

Further, the central locking part may be a central serration formed inthe central pin joint along an inner circumference thereof, the endlocking part may be an end serration formed in the end pin joint alongan inner circumference thereof, and the tube locking part may be a tubeserration formed on an outer circumference of the locking tube to comeinto contact with both the central serration and the end serration.

Further, the central locking part may be a plurality of locking groovesor locking protrusions formed on an inner circumference of the centralpin joint in a circumferential direction thereof, the end locking partmay be a plurality of locking grooves or locking protrusions formed onan inner circumference of the end pin joint in a circumferentialdirection thereof, and the tube locking part may be a key groove or akey protrusion which is formed on the outer circumference of the lockingtube in an elongated form so as to fix the relative position between thecentral locking part and the end locking part.

Further, the knob may be formed in a polygonal shape, or may haveprotrusions or grooves formed on an outer circumference thereof, so asto facilitate gripping.

Further, the knob may have a device coupling part formed on an innersurface thereof for coupling with the device.

Further, the device coupling part may be a female thread formed on theinner surface of the knob.

Further, the device coupling part may be coupling recesses or couplingprotrusions formed on the inner surface of the knob.

Further, the rotation device may include one and/or two end pin joint(s)and two and/or one central pin joint(s), such that the one end/centralpin joint is inserted between the two central/end pin joints.

Further, a rotation pin support seat may be formed only in oneend/central pin joint of the two central/end pin joints.

Further, the rotation device may include rotational locking units whichare rotatably disposed in the central body, and come into contact withan outer surface of the end pin joint to prevent a rotation of the endbody.

Furthermore, the central body may include: rotational locking unit seatsformed therein, into which the rotational locking units are inserted;and openings formed on one side of each rotational locking unit seat toexpose a side face of the rotational locking unit toward the end pinjoint.

Furthermore, the rotational locking unit may include: a rotationalprotrusion inserted into the rotational protrusion seat formed in therotational locking unit seat; a rotational locking unit body formedintegrally with the rotational protrusion; a contact surface formed onone portion of an outer surface of the rotational locking unit body tocome into contact with the end pin joint; and a non-contact surfacewhich is formed on the other portion of the outer surface of therotational locking unit body and continuously forms the contact surfacewithout contacting the end pin joint.

Furthermore, the spinal plate may include: a central body; a pair ofrotation portions, the pair of rotation portions being disposed on bothsides in a longitudinal direction of the central body. Each of the pairof rotation portions comprises a bone screw for being inserted intovertebrae.

Furthermore, the central body may include: a central hole; and tworotational locking units. The two rotational locking units areconfigured to be released or fastened.

Furthermore, each of the pair of rotation portions comprises a rotationconnection portion, and the central body comprises a rotation supportportion.

Furthermore, the spinal plate may include rotation pins. The rotationpins are configured to connect the central body with the pair ofrotation portions and are configured to enable the pair of rotationportions to rotate with respect to the central body at any angle.

Furthermore, each of the pair of rotation portions is configured torotate with respect to the central body counterclockwise for a rotationportion disposed on a right side of the central body and clockwise for arotation portion disposed on a left side of the central body. An anglebetween each of the pair of rotation portions and the central body is upto 90 degree with respect to the longitudinal direction of the centralbody.

Furthermore, the angle between each of the pair of rotation portions andthe central body is larger than 90 degree with respect to thelongitudinal direction of the central body.

Furthermore, each of the pair of rotation portions comprises a rotationconnection portion, and the central body comprises a rotation supportportion. A rotation of each of the pair of rotation portions isrestricted by an upper portion of the rotation support portion as therotation connection portion rotates with each of the pair of rotationportions.

Furthermore, each of the pair of rotation portions is configured torotate with respect to the central body clockwise for a rotation portiondisposed on a right side of the central body and counterclockwise for arotation portion disposed on a left side of the central body. An anglebetween each of the pair of rotation portions and the central body isless than 45 degree with respect to the longitudinal direction of thecentral body.

Furthermore, a rotation of each of the pair of rotation portions isrestricted by a rotational angle control portion formed between a bottomportion of the central body and a bottom portion of each of the pair ofrotation portions.

Furthermore, each of the pair of rotation portions comprises a spikescrew.

Furthermore, the spike screw comprises a head portion and a bodyportion, and the head portion and the body portion have differentthreads.

Furthermore, a pitch of the thread in the head portion is smaller than apitch of the thread in the body portion, thereby enabling self-lockingwhile pulling the vertebrae to the spinal plate.

Furthermore, a washer is put on the bone screw on a washer support parton each of the pair of rotation portions.

Furthermore, the spinal plate is designed such that the washer isconfigured to rotate with respect to each of the pair of rotationportions and a head of the bone screw is configured to rotate withrespect to the washer.

Furthermore, the angle between each of the pair of rotation portions andthe central body may be up to 20 degree with respect to the longitudinaldirection of the central body.

According to the present invention, the rotation device and the lockingdevice may be installed so as to be used by fixing any one or more oflongitudinal ends of the plate with being rotated at any angle, therebyallowing a doctor to modify a shape of the spinal plate to the shapedesired by the doctor, and to perform the surgery by coping with variousspin shapes of the patients.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and other advantages of thepresent invention will be more clearly understood from the followingdetailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a spinal plate according toEmbodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a central body of the spinalplate according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating an end body of the spinalplate according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a rotation pin of the spinalplate according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a locking tube of the spinalplate according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the lockingtube is released in the spinal plate according to Embodiment 1 of thepresent invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the lockingtube is fastened in the spinal plate according to Embodiment 1 of thepresent invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the endbodies are rotated with respect to the central body and then the lockingtubes are fastened to lock the end bodies of the spinal plate accordingto Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the endbodies are rotated with respect to the central body and then the lockingtubes are released to unlock the end bodies of the spinal plateaccording to Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a spinal plate according toEmbodiment 2 of the present invention with being unlocked;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating a central body of the spinalplate according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view illustrating an end body of the spinalplate according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating a rotational locking unit ofthe spinal plate according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view illustrating a rotation pin of the spinalplate according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a partially enlarged perspective view of the spinal plateaccording to Embodiment 2 of the present invention with the rotationallocking units being released;

FIG. 16 is a partially enlarged perspective view of the spinal plateaccording to Embodiment 2 of the present invention with the rotationallocking units being fastened;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view illustrating the spinal plate according toEmbodiment 2 of the present invention with being locked;

FIG. 18 is a perspective view illustrating a spinal plate according toEmbodiment 3 of the present invention;

FIG. 19 is a top view illustrating a spinal plate according toEmbodiment 3 of the present invention;

FIG. 20 is a bottom view illustrating a spinal plate according toEmbodiment 3 of the present invention;

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of separate components in a spinal plateaccording to Embodiment 3 of the present invention;

FIG. 22 is a partially enlarged perspective view of the spinal plateaccording to Embodiment 3 of the present invention with a washer put ona bone screw on a washer support part on each of the pair of rotationportions; and

FIG. 23 is a partially enlarged perspective view of the spinal plateaccording to Embodiment 3 of the present invention with a rotationalangle control portion formed between a bottom portion of the centralbody and a bottom portion of each of the pair of rotation portions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail withreference to the accompanying drawings. In denoting reference numeralsto constitutional elements of respective drawings, it should be notedthat the same elements will be denoted by the same reference numeralsalthough they are illustrated in different drawings. In the embodimentsof the present invention, the publicly known functions andconfigurations that are judged to be able to make the purport of thepresent invention unnecessarily obscure will not be described.

A spinal plate 100 according to Embodiment 1 of the present inventionwill be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9. FIG. 1 is aperspective view illustrating the spinal plate 100 according toEmbodiment 1 of the present invention. As illustrated in FIG. 1, thespinal plate 100 basically includes: a central body 102; and a pair ofend bodies 104 and 106 which are disposed on both sides in alongitudinal direction of the central body 102 and have one or morefixing screw holes 110 formed therein, in which fixing screws to beinserted into vertebrae are received, wherein at least one of the pairof end bodies 104 and 106 includes a rotation device for fixing the endbody to the central body 102 in a selectively rotatable manner, and alocking device for maintaining the rotation device in an unlocked stateor a locked state.

The spinal plate 100 may be made of a known material such as titanium, aCo—Cr alloy, or the like, but it is not limited thereto.

The fixing screw hole 110 may include a screw support part 108 so as tosupport a head of the received fixing screw (not illustrated). Whenusing the spinal plate 100 between a pair of adjacent vertebral bodies,it is sufficient for the fixing screw holes 110 formed in the end bodies104 and 106 on both sides, but when using the spinal plate for three ormore vertebral bodies, it is possible to further from one or more fixingscrew holes for receiving the fixing screws to be inserted into thevertebrae in the central body 102.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the central body of the spinalplate 100 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Asillustrated in FIG. 2, the central body 102 may include: central pinjoints 118 and 124 formed at both ends thereof; and central lockingparts formed in the central pin joints 118 and 124 and a window 128formed in a central portion thereof.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the end body of the spinalplate according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. As illustratedin FIG. 3, the end bodies 104 and 106 may include one or more fixingscrew holes 110 which are disposed on both sides in the longitudinaldirection of the central body 102, and receive the fixing screws to beinserted into the vertebrae. In addition, the end bodies 104 and 106 mayinclude an end pin joint 112 formed at an end thereof and an end lockingpart formed in the end pin joint 112.

The end locking part may be an end serration 114 formed on the innercircumference of the end pin joint 112, and may be a plurality oflocking grooves or locking protrusions (not illustrated) formed on theinner circumference of the end pin joint 112 in a circumferentialdirection thereof.

The rotation device may include: the central pin joints 118 and 124formed at the both ends of the central body 102; the end pin joints 112formed at the ends of the end bodies 104 and 106; and rotation pins 130which are inserted into the central pin joints 118 and 124 and the endpin joints 112 in a penetration manner.

In Embodiment 1, the rotation device may include one end pin joint 112and two central pin joints 118 and 124 spaced apart from each other, andthe end pin joint 112 is inserted between the two central pin joints 118and 124. On the other hand, in one variant, the rotation device mayinclude two end pin joints and one central pin joint, such that thecentral pin joint is inserted between the two end pin joints.Additionally, the rotation device may also include one central pin jointand one end pin joint, and various variants are possible other than theabove-described configurations.

The locking device may include: the central locking parts formed in thecentral pin joints 118 and 124 so as to be located outside the rotationpin 130; the end locking part formed in the end pin joint 112 so as tobe located outside the rotation pin 130; and a locking tube 140 which isinserted into the central pin joints 118 and 124 and the end pin joint112 outside of the rotation pin 130 to be fastened to the end lockingpart and the central locking parts so as to prevent rotations thereof.

The central locking parts may be central serrations 120 and 126 formedon an inner circumference of the central pin joints 118 and 124. Aspitches of the central serrations 120 and 126 are decreased, variousangles may be implemented, but on the other hand, the pitch is reducedto cause a deterioration in mechanical performance. Therefore, it isimportant to determine the pitch of the central serrations 120 and 126so that the stability can be secured through a performance test, as wellas a range of angle change can be small.

In addition, the central locking parts may be a plurality of lockinggrooves or locking protrusions (not illustrated) formed on the innercircumference of the central pin joints 118 and 124 in a circumferentialdirection thereof.

The window 128 may serve as a view port for checking a vertebral surfacethat comes into contact with the spinal plate during the surgery, andmay also be utilized as an application for coupling a device through thewindow 128.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the rotation pin 130 of thespinal plate 100 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Asillustrated in FIG. 4, the rotation pin 130 may include a rotation pincentral portion 132 and rotation pin end portions 134 and 136, and passthrough the central pin joints 118 and 124 and the end serration 114 tobe inserted into the central locking parts and the end locking part. Alength of the rotation pin 130 may be equal to or shorter than adistance between the outermost ends of two central body joints 118 and124 so as not to be exposed to an outside of the two central body joints118 and 124.

In addition, the end pin joint 112 may have a rotation pin support seat116 formed therein, on which the rotation pin 130 is rotatably seatedwhile being in contact therewith. By forming the rotation pin supportseat 116 in the end pin joint 112, it is possible to stably support therotation pin 130 so as to prevent it from being removed outward.Further, to this end, a cross section of a portion of the rotation pin130 that comes into contact with the rotation pin support seat 116 maybe formed to be smaller than those of outer portions from the portion inthe longitudinal direction.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the locking tube 140 of thespinal plate 100 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Asillustrated in FIG. 5, the locking tube 140 may include a tube lockingpart which is formed on an outer circumference thereof to come intocontact with the end locking part and the central locking part, and isconfigured to fix a relative position between the end locking part andthe central locking part, and a knob 144 formed at one end thereof.

The tube locking part may be a tube serration 142 formed on an outercircumference of the locking tube 140 having teeth 143 to come intocontact with both the central serrations 120 and 126 and the endserration 114.

In addition, the tube locking part may be a key groove or a keyprotrusion (not illustrated) which is formed on the outer circumferenceof the locking tube 140 in an elongated form so as to fix the relativeposition between the central locking part and the end locking part. Thatis, two or more key grooves or key protrusions are formed on the outercircumference of the locking tube 140 as the tube locking part, so as tobe inserted into a plurality of protrusions or grooves which areradially formed on inner circumferences of the central pin joints 118and 124 as the central locking part and the end pin joint 112 as the endlocking part at any angle corresponding to the key groove or keyprotrusion of the tube locking part.

The shapes of the tube locking part, the central locking part, and theend locking part are not limited to those described above, and variousmodifications are possible.

The knob 144 may be formed in a polygonal shape, or may have protrusionsor grooves formed on the outer circumference thereof, therebyfacilitating gripping. The knob 144 may serve as a grip to facilitateinsertion when inserting the locking tube 140 into the central lockingpart and the end locking part.

In addition, the knob 144 may have a device coupling part 146 formed onan inner surface thereof for coupling with the device, and the devicecoupling part 146 may be a female thread, coupling recesses or couplingprotrusions formed on the inner surface of the knob 144. In the presentinvention, by forming the female thread, coupling recesses or couplingprotrusions in the knob 144 as the device coupling part 146, even afterthe locking tube 140 is fastened to the central locking part and the endlocking part to be the locked state, the locking tube 140 is released bycoupling a device (not illustrated) to the device coupling part 146formed in the knob 144 to return it to the unlocked state again. At thistime, in a state in which the rotation pin 130 is pressed to one side,the device (not illustrated) is coupled to the device coupling part 146,or the length of the rotation pin 130 is formed to be smaller than anentire length of the central pin joint 118 and 124 and the end pin joint112.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the lockingtube 140 is released in the spinal plate 100 according to Embodiment 1of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustratinga state in which the locking tube 140 is fastened in the spinal plate100 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. As illustratedin FIGS. 6 and 7, the rotation pin 130 is inserted through the centralpin joints 118 and 124 and the end pin joint 112, and may be stablyinserted due to the rotation pin support seat 116 formed in the end pinjoint 112.

In the unlocked state which is a state before the locking tube 140 iscompletely fastened to the central locking part and the end locking partas illustrated in FIG. 6, it is possible to adjust so that the endbodies 104 and 106 are positioned at a desired angle with respect to thecentral body 102. Further, in the locked state which is a state in whichthe locking tube 140 is completely fastened to the central locking partand the end locking part as illustrated in FIG. 7, rotations of the endbodies 104 and 106 with respect to the central body 102 are prevented tobe a fixed state.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the endbodies 104 and 106 are rotated with respect to the central body 102 andthen the locking tubes 140 are fastened to lock the end bodies 104 and106 of the spinal plate 100 according to Embodiment 1 of the presentinvention, and FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating a state inwhich the end bodies 104 and 106 are rotated with respect to the centralbody 102 and then the locking tubes 140 are released to unlock the endbodies 104 and 106 of the spinal plate 100 according to Embodiment 1 ofthe present invention. As illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, according to thepresent invention, the end bodies 104 and 106 may be adjusted to bepositioned at a desired angle with respect to the central body 102. Evenafter the locked state as illustrated in FIG. 8, the locking tube 140may be released by the device coupling part 146 formed in the knob 144of the locking tube 140 to return it to the unlocked state again asillustrated in FIG. 9.

Next, a spinal plate 200 according to Embodiment 2 of the presentinvention will be described with reference to the FIGS. 10 to 17. FIG.10 is a perspective view illustrating the spinal plate 200 according toEmbodiment 2 of the present invention. As illustrated in FIG. 10, thespinal plate 200 basically includes: a central body 202; and a pair ofend bodies 204 and 206 which are disposed on both sides in alongitudinal direction of the central body 202 and have one or morefixing screw holes 210 in which the fixing screws to be inserted intovertebrae are received, wherein at least one of the pair of end bodies204 and 206 includes a rotation device for fixing the end body to thecentral body 202 in a selectively rotatable manner, and a locking devicefor maintaining the rotation device in an unlocked state or a lockedstate, which are the same as Embodiment 1.

The spinal plate 200 may be made of a known material such as titanium,Co—Cr alloy, but it is not limited thereto.

The fixing screw hole 210 may include a screw support part 208 so as tosupport a head of the received fixing screw (not illustrated). Whenusing the spinal plate 200 between a pair of adjacent vertebral bodies,it is sufficient for the fixing screw holes 210 formed in the end bodies204 and 206 on both sides, but when using the spinal plate for three ormore vertebral bodies, it is possible to further from one or more fixingscrew holes for receiving the fixing screws to be inserted into thevertebrae in the central body 202.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating the central body 202 of thespinal plate 200 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. Asillustrated in FIG. 11, the central body 202 may include: central pinjoints 218 and 224 formed at both ends thereof; and central pin holes220 and 226 formed in the central pin joints 218 and 224. Further, awindow 228 may be additionally formed in the central body 202.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view illustrating the end body of the spinalplate according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. As illustratedin FIG. 12, the end bodies 204 and 206 may include one or more fixingscrew holes 210 which are disposed on both sides in the longitudinaldirection of the central body 202, and receive the fixing screws to beinserted into the vertebrae. In addition, the end bodies 204 and 206 mayinclude an end pin joint 212 formed at an end thereof and an end pinhole 214 formed in the end pin joint 212.

The rotation device may include: the central pin joint 218 and 224formed at the both ends of the central body 202; the end pin joints 212formed at the ends of the end bodies 204 and 206; and rotation pins 230which are inserted into the central pin joints 218 and 224 and the endpin joints 212 in a penetration manner.

In Embodiment 2, the rotation device may include one end pin joint 212and two central pin joints 218 and 224 spaced apart from each other, andthe end pin joint 212 is inserted between the two central pin joints 218and 224. On the other hand, in one variant, the rotation device mayinclude two end pin joints and one central pin joint, such that thecentral pin joint is inserted between the two end pin joints.Additionally, the rotation device may also include one central pin jointand one end pin joint, and various variants are possible other than theabove-described configurations.

The spinal plate 200 of Embodiment 2 is characterized in that therotation device includes rotational locking units 240 which arerotatably disposed in the central body 202, and come into contact withan outer surface of the end pin joint 212 to prevent rotations of theend bodies 204 and 206.

To this end, the central body 202 may include: rotational locking unitseats 252 formed therein, into which the rotational locking units 240are inserted; and openings 254 formed on one side of each rotationallocking unit seat 252 to expose a side face of the rotational lockingunit 240 toward the end pin joint 212. In addition, a rotationalprotrusion seat 256 may be formed in the rotational locking unit seat252 to rotatably support the rotational locking unit 240.

In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 13, the rotational locking unit 240may include: a rotational protrusion 248 inserted into the rotationalprotrusion seat 256 formed in the rotational locking unit seat 252; arotational locking unit body 242 formed integrally with the rotationalprotrusion 248; a contact surface 244 formed on one portion of an outersurface of the rotational locking unit body 242 to come into contactwith the end pin joint; and a non-contact surface 246 which is formed onthe other portion of the outer surface of the rotational locking unitbody 242 and continuously forms the contact surface 244 withoutcontacting the end pin joint 212. Further, the rotational locking unitbody 242 may have a device groove 250 formed on an upper side thereof,into which a device is inserted. On the other hand, a device protrusionmay be formed on the rotational locking unit body 242 to be inserted thedevice.

The rotational protrusion seat 256 and the rotational protrusion 248 arecoupled to each other in such a way that: the rotational protrusion 248is inserted into a rotation ring, an annular ring, or an annular grooveformed in the rotational protrusion seat 256; the rotational protrusion248 has a structure formed on the outer circumference thereofcorresponding to the rotational protrusion seat 256 to be tightly fittedwith each other; or an end of the rotational protrusion 248 penetrates ahole formed in the rotational protrusion seat 256 and fixed thereto byusing known techniques such as riveting or inserting a fixing bolt. Therotational locking unit body 242 may have a bolt shape as a whole, andthe device groove 250 formed at the upper center thereof may have aknown shape such as a hexagonal or star shape. Further, it is alsopossible to form a hexagonal or star-shaped protrusion in the rotationallocking unit body 242 in place of the device groove 250. The outercircumference of the rotational locking unit body 242 has a cylindricalshape as a whole, and a cut-out portion thereof on one side correspondsto the non-contact surface 246, and the remaining portion thereof, whichis not cut-out, corresponds to the contact surface 244. A center angleof the non-contact surface 246 and the contact surface 244 can beselected by a designer as necessary. However, in Embodiment 2, when thenon-contact surface 246 is positioned at the opening 254, a width of thenon-contact surface 246 is substantially equal to that of the opening254. In addition, a cut-out thickness of the non-contact surface 246 isset so as to have a level coinciding with surrounding surfaces when thenon-contact surface 246 is located at the opening 254.

The window 228 is formed in the central body 202 to serve as a view portfor checking a vertebral surface that comes into contact with the spinalplate during the surgery, and may also be utilized as an application forcoupling a device through the window 228.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view illustrating the rotation pin 230 of thespinal plate 200 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. Asillustrated in FIG. 14, the rotation pin 230 may include a rotation pincentral portion 232 and the rotation pin end portions 234 and 236, andpass through the central pin joints 218 and 224 and the end locking partto be inserted into the central pin holes 220 and 226 and the end pinhole 214. A length of the rotation pin 230 may be equal to or shorterthan a distance between the outermost ends of two central pin joints 218and 224 so as not to be exposed to the outside of the two central pinjoints 218 and 224.

In addition, the end pin joint 212 may have a rotation pin support seat(not illustrated) formed therein, on which the rotation pin 230 isrotatably seated while being in contact therewith, which is the same asEmbodiment 1. By forming the rotation pin support seat in the end pinjoint 212, it is possible to stably support the rotation pin 230 so asto prevent it from being removed outward. Further, to this end, a crosssection of a portion of the rotation pin 230 that comes into contactwith the rotation pin support seat may be formed to be smaller thanthose of the portions outside the portion. In addition, the rotation pinsupport seat may be formed in any one of the central pin joints 218 and224. Additionally, it is also possible to form the rotation pin supportseats in both the central pin joints 218 and 224 and the end pin joint212.

Hereinafter, an operation of the spinal plate 200 will be described withreference to FIGS. 15 to 17.

As illustrated in FIG. 15, when the non-contact surface 246 of therotational locking unit 240 is positioned at the opening 254 of thecentral body 202, it is referred to an open state. In this case, sincethe non-contact surface 246 of the rotational locking unit 240 does notcontact with the surface of the end pin joint 212, the end bodies 204and 206 can move freely with respect to the central body 202.

Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 16, a user rotates the end bodies 204 and206 with respect to the central body 202 to make the spinal plate be adesired angle, then rotates the rotational locking unit 240 so that thecontact surface 244 protrudes through the opening 254. In Embodiment 2of the present invention, since four rotational locking units 240 aredisposed by two on each side, the above-described operations arerepeated four times.

As a result, as illustrated in FIG. 17, the spinal plate 200 can befixed with the end bodies 204 and 206 being angularly rotated withrespect to the central body 202 at any angle.

Next, a spinal plate 300 according to Embodiment 3 of the presentinvention will be described with reference to the FIGS. 18-23. FIG. 18is a perspective view illustrating the spinal plate 300 according toEmbodiment 3 of the present invention. FIG. 19 is a top viewillustrating a spinal plate according to Embodiment 3 of the presentinvention. FIG. 20 is a bottom view illustrating a spinal plateaccording to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. FIG. 21 is aperspective view of separate components in a spinal plate according toEmbodiment 3 of the present invention.

As illustrated in FIG. 18, the spinal plate 300 basically includes: acentral body 302; and a pair of rotation portions 312 which are disposedon both sides in a longitudinal direction of the central body 302 andeach of the pair of rotation portions 312 has bone screw 308. These bonescrews 308 are inserted into vertebrae. The spinal plate 300 furtherincludes: spike screw 306 in each of the pair of rotation portions 312.The central body 302 includes a center hole 318 and two rotationallocking units 340. These rotational locking units 340 can be releasedand/or fastened, as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16. Each of the pair ofrotation portions 312 include a rotation connection portion 316, and thecentral body includes a rotation support portion 314. Rotation pins 330are used to connect the central body 302 with the pair of rotationportions 312 disposed on both sides in a longitudinal direction of thecentral body 302 and enable the pair of rotation portions 312 to rotatewith respect to the central body 302. The rotation pins 330 are the sameas Embodiments 1 and 2.

As illustrated in FIG. 18, the spinal plate 300 according to Embodiment3 of the present invention is specifically targeted for MIS surgery.

The pair of rotation portions 312, disposed on both sides in alongitudinal direction of the central body 302, are rotated with respectto the central body 302 at any angle, thereby allowing a doctor to usethe spinal plate by modifying a shape thereof to the shape desired bythe doctor during MIS surgery, and to perform the surgery by coping withvarious spin shapes of patients. In particular, each of the pair ofrotation portions 312 can be rotated with respect to the central body302 counterclockwise (for a rotation portion 312 disposed on the rightside of the central body 302) or clockwise (for a rotation portion 312disposed on the left side of the central body 302) so that an anglebetween each of the pair of rotation portions 312 and the central body302 is up to 90 degree with respect to a longitudinal direction of thecentral body 302 (“twelve o'clock”). This angle between each of the pairof rotation portions 312 and the central body 302 can be larger than 90degree. The rotation of each of the pair of rotation portions 312 isrestricted by an upper portion of the rotation support portion 314(surface on which two rotational locking units 340 are positioned) asthe rotation connection portion 316 rotates with each of the pair ofrotation portions 312.

In addition, each of the pair of rotation portions 312 can be rotatedwith respect to the central body 302 clockwise (for a rotation portion312 disposed on the right side of the central body 302) orcounterclockwise (for a rotation portion 312 disposed on the left sideof the central body 302) so that an angle between each of the pair ofrotation portions 312 and the central body 302 is less than 45 degree(preferably, up to 20 degree) with respect to a longitudinal directionof the central body 302 (“four o'clock” or “eight o'clock”). The reasonfor limiting up to 45 degree (preferably, up to 20 degree) is that thespinal plate is to be supported by the compressive force applied in adirection that an upper and a lower vertebrae are close to each other(the weight exerted by the human body). If this angle is greater than 45degree, the rotation part 312 would fail to properly transmit thecompression to the body. This rotation is restricted by a rotationalangle control portion 310 formed between a bottom portion 322 of thecentral body 302 and a bottom portion 320 of each of the pair ofrotation portions 312. This means that there are two rotational anglecontrol portions 310 formed between two opposite bottom end portions 322of the central body 302 in a longitudinal direction of the central body302 (bottom left end and bottom right end sides of the central body 302)and two bottom portions 320 of each of the pair of rotation portions312. As illustrated in FIG. 23, there is a gap between a bottom portion322 of the central body 302 and a bottom portion 320 of each of the pairof rotation portions 312. In addition, two opposite bottom end portions322 of the central body 302 are designed such that they are slightlyindented inward toward a center of the central body 302 in thelongitudinal direction of the central body 302. However, the design oftwo opposite bottom end portions 322 of the central body 302 is notlimited as illustrated in FIG. 23.

Specifically, when making a surgical path for surgery, and inserting thespinal plate 300 to the surgical path, each of the pair of rotationportions 312 is folded upward with respect to the spinal plate 300. Whenthe spinal plate 300 is placed on the surgical site (precisely,positioned to span the upper and lower vertebrae around the disk), eachof the pair of rotation portion 312 is rotated to contact the vertebrae.At this point, the end of the vertebrae is slightly larger in diameterthan other parts of the vertebrae. Therefore, with the spinal plate 300in contact with the vertebrae, each of the pair of rotation portion 312rotates more than the spinal plate's longitudinal plane, which rotatesas if it is surrounding the end of the vertebrae. At this point, thebone screw 308 is inserted. Due to the rotation of the each of the pairof rotation part 312, the bone screw 308 is inserted inside the spine(e.g., in the disc direction) with respect to a perpendicular directionof the spinal plate 300. Therefore, insertion directions of the bonescrew 308 can be adjusted to a horizontal or an upward direction of thespine using the washer 304. The insertion of the bone screw 308 can thenbe fixed at any angle with friction between the washer 304 and the headof the bone screw 308, the washer 304 and the spinal plate 300, asdiscussed above. Furthermore, the washer 304 can enlarge the insertiondirections of the bone screw 308 both vertically and horizontally.

Furthermore, the spinal plate 300 according to Embodiment 3 of thepresent invention includes spike screw 306 on each of the pair ofrotation portions 312. In the conventional case, spike or teeth is usedand formed integrally with the spinal plate. However, this spike orteeth does not provide a robust capability to securely adhere the spinalplate to the vertebrae. Therefore, the present invention applies thespike screw 306 on each of the pair of rotation portions 312. This spikescrew 306 includes a head portion 326 and a body portion 328, and thehead portion 326 and the body portion 328 have different threads. Thespike screw 306 is designed such that a pitch of the thread in the headportion 326 is smaller than a pitch of the thread in the body portion328, thereby enabling self-locking while pulling the vertebrae to thespinal plate. The head portion 326 of the spike screw 306 is screwedwith a spike screw support part 334 of the rotation portion 312.

As illustrated in FIG. 22, a washer 304 is put on the bone screw 308 ona washer support part 332 on each of the pair of rotation portions 312.The washer 304 is assembled with the spinal plate 300 and pressed fittedin the manufacturing facility. During the manufacturing process, a topportion 324 of the washer 304 is inserted inside the washer support part332 after deflation. The top portion 324 of the washer 304 is enlargedinside the washer support part 332 after the insertion. During thesurgery, the bone screw 308 is inserted into the washer 304 to securethe spinal plate 300 to the vertebral body. Therefore, a head of thebone screw 308 presses down on the washer 304, and the washer 304presses down on the washer support part 332 of t20he rotation portion312, thereby creating friction. The design of the washer 304 is notlimited as illustrated in FIG. 21. The washer 304 surrounds a head ofthe bone screw 308 and is designed such that the washer 304 can beeasily put on the circular (oval or round) head of the bone screw 308.In order to increase insertion angles of the bone screw 308, the spinalplate 300 is designed such that the washer 304 rotates with respect toeach of the pair of rotation portions 312 and a head of the bone screw308 rotates with respect to the washer 304. By having large insertionangles of the bone screw 308, when both sides of rotation portion 312are rotated downward than the body, inserting the bone screw 308 wouldcause the bone screw 308 to face inward. In order to solve this problem,insertion angles of the bone screw 308 is designed such that theseangles can be adjusted arbitrarily. Inserting and securing the bonescrew 308 would push the washer 304, which would tighten and hold thehead of the bone screw 308 by friction.

While the present invention has been described with reference to thepreferred embodiments and modified examples, the present invention isnot limited to the above-described specific embodiments and the modifiedexamples, and it will be understood by those skilled in the related artthat various modifications and variations may be made therein withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention as defined by theappended claims.

According to the present invention, it is possible to use the spinalplate by modifying the shape thereof in the shape desired by the doctorduring the surgery, thereby developing a spinal plate that can cope withthe various spin shapes of the patients.

In addition, the shape of the spinal plate may be deformed at variousangles with a single plate, it is possible to reduce the burden ofpreparing the plates for each operation during the surgery, therebygreatly reducing product costs from the manufacturer's point of view.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   -   100, 200, 300: Spinal plate    -   102, 202, 302: Central body    -   104, 106, 204, 206: End body    -   108, 208: Screw support part    -   110, 210: Fixing screw hole    -   112, 212: End pin joint    -   114: End serration    -   118, 124, 218, 224: Central pin joint    -   116: Rotation pin support seat    -   120, 126: Central serration    -   128, 228: Window    -   130, 230, 330: Rotation pin    -   132, 232: Rotation pin central portion    -   134, 136, 234, 236: Rotation pin end portion    -   140: Locking tube    -   142: Tube serration    -   143: Teeth    -   144: Knob    -   146: Device coupling part    -   214: End pin hole    -   220, 226: Central pin hole    -   240, 340: Rotational locking unit    -   242: Rotational locking unit body    -   244: Contact surface    -   246: Non-contact surface    -   248: Rotational protrusion    -   250: Device groove    -   252: Rotational locking unit seat    -   254: Opening    -   256: Rotational protrusion seat    -   304: Washer    -   306: Spike screw    -   308: Bone screw    -   310: Rotational angle control portion    -   312: Rotation portion    -   314: Rotation support portion    -   316: Rotation connection portion    -   318: Center hole    -   320: Bottom portion of rotation portion    -   322: Bottom portion of central body    -   324: Top portion of washer    -   326: Head portion of spike screw    -   328: Body portion of spike screw    -   332: Washer support part    -   334: Spike screw support part

What is claimed is:
 1. A spinal plate comprising: a central body; a pairof rotation portions, the pair of rotation portions being disposed onboth sides in a longitudinal direction of the central body, wherein eachof the pair of rotation portions comprises a bone screw for beinginserted into vertebrae.
 2. The spinal plate according to claim 1,wherein the central body comprises: a central hole; and two rotationallocking units, wherein the two rotational locking units are configuredto be released or fastened.
 3. The spinal plate according to claim 1,wherein each of the pair of rotation portions comprises a rotationconnection portion, and the central body comprises a rotation supportportion.
 4. The spinal plate according to claim 1, wherein the spinalplate further comprises rotation pins, and wherein the rotation pins areconfigured to connect the central body with the pair of rotationportions and are configured to enable the pair of rotation portions torotate with respect to the central body at any angle.
 5. The spinalplate according to claim 4, wherein each of the pair of rotationportions is configured to rotate with respect to the central bodycounterclockwise for a rotation portion disposed on a right side of thecentral body and clockwise for a rotation portion disposed on a leftside of the central body, and wherein an angle between each of the pairof rotation portions and the central body is up to 90 degree withrespect to the longitudinal direction of the central body.
 6. The spinalplate according to claim 5, wherein the angle between each of the pairof rotation portions and the central body is larger than 90 degree withrespect to the longitudinal direction of the central body.
 7. The spinalplate according to claim 4, wherein each of the pair of rotationportions comprises a rotation connection portion, and the central bodycomprises a rotation support portion, and wherein a rotation of each ofthe pair of rotation portions is restricted by an upper portion of therotation support portion as the rotation connection portion rotates witheach of the pair of rotation portions.
 8. The spinal plate according toclaim 4, wherein each of the pair of rotation portions is configured torotate with respect to the central body clockwise for a rotation portiondisposed on a right side of the central body and counterclockwise for arotation portion disposed on a left side of the central body, andwherein an angle between each of the pair of rotation portions and thecentral body is less than 45 degree with respect to the longitudinaldirection of the central body.
 9. The spinal plate according to claim 8,wherein a rotation of each of the pair of rotation portions isrestricted by a rotational angle control portion formed between a bottomportion of the central body and a bottom portion of each of the pair ofrotation portions.
 10. The spinal plate according to claim 1, whereineach of the pair of rotation portions comprises a spike screw.
 11. Thespinal plate according to claim 10, wherein the spike screw comprises ahead portion and a body portion, and wherein the head portion and thebody portion have different threads.
 12. The spinal plate according toclaim 11, wherein a pitch of the thread in the head portion is smallerthan a pitch of the thread in the body portion, thereby enablingself-locking while pulling the vertebrae to the spinal plate.
 13. Thespinal plate according to claim 10, wherein a washer is put on the bonescrew on a washer support part on each of the pair of rotation portions.14. The spinal plate according to claim 13, wherein the spinal plate isdesigned such that the washer is configured to rotate with respect toeach of the pair of rotation portions and a head of the bone screw isconfigured to rotate with respect to the washer.
 15. The spinal plateaccording to claim 8, wherein the angle between each of the pair ofrotation portions and the central body is up to 20 degree with respectto the longitudinal direction of the central body.